“A single one.”
“Caroline, what manner of man do you wish to marry?”
“A gentleman, of course, with a good fortune. A handsome and genteel man, all courtesy and good breeding.” She turned to Mrs Lanyon. “What do you think?”
“I would be content with a cheerful manner and an interesting face,” Mrs Lanyon finally said.
“Then you do intend to marry again?”
It was an impertinent question, even in the game, especially to one who was not a friend.
When it was clear that Mrs Lanyon would be silent, Elizabeth said to Miss Bingley, “If you ever achieve a happily married state, then I am sure that you could understand if a widow, after properly mourning her husband, may wish to marry again. Or she may keep his memory too close to her heart to allow another man into it.”
“Tell us what manner of man you have in mind for Miss Darcy,” Balfour said to Darcy, perhaps trying to shift attention from his own sister’s distress.
“Let go!”
Balfour did, and then said, “Damn it!” before apologising to the ladies. “You were saying, Darcy?”
“I would wish for her to make a prudent choice,” he said softly, with a look to Georgiana that held all the grace he could show her for her mistake at Ramsgate. “There are many considerations that are necessary.”
“Hold fast!”
They all let go, and whilst they were collecting their ribbons, Mrs Hurst said, “You must have more to say about the husband you want for your sister.”
“Miss Darcy will have an opinion on that as well,” Mrs Annesley immediately said, and Darcy admired her for her devotion to Georgiana.
“Of course she will, and her preference will be the most important consideration,” Darcy said, giving Georgiana a pointed look. Her smile reassured him that she had recovered from her disappointment at Ramsgate.
“Come now, tell us what you require of a suitor for Miss Darcy,” Balfour said.
“I would consider the family and connexions of the young man—which are not the most essential in my eye,” he added quickly. “His disposition and frame of mind are important.” Darcy turned to Elizabeth, holding her eye and speaking pointedly. “She should consider what prospect there is of his proving kind and affectionate to her, and just and attentive to her children.”
“Let go!”
Elizabeth’s breath came a little fast as she smiled fondly at him, and Darcy let go of his ribbon.
“You see,” Bingley said, “not so simple a contrivance!”
He had kept his passion for Elizabeth within some bounds, but when she smiled at him with such warmth and tenderness, he felt the dawning of particular desires and wishes. Although he had yet to learn for certain if her feelings for him had changed, his blood was boiling in his veins at the hope of it.
Darcy hurriedly picked up his ribbon, trying to settle his racing heart, and they played for a while longer, but no new forfeits were incurred. Hurst, Mrs Lanyon, Balfour, and himself were required to pay penance. Bingley conferred with a few of the others to decide their punishment.
“Well, Hurst, in the spirit of contradiction, you shall do the direct contrary to what everyone in the company asks of you.”
They were amused for some time whilst Hurst was bid to be speechless, to not salute his wife, to sing as quietly as he could, and so on. Mrs Lanyon was punished less severely, and had only to attempt to blow out a candle as Bingley passed it back and forth in front of herlips. This feat proved more difficult than imagined, and by the end everyone was laughing.
“I hope you have chosen to award a more interesting punishment to us two forfeits,” Balfour said to Bingley whilst drawing Darcy forward with him.
“Indeed? Then, Darcy’s quip about siblings notwithstanding, why notLe Baiser à la Religieuse for you both?”
His company cried in amusement, but Darcy worried about his turn. Balfour seemed to have no misgivings about being the Penitent and, to his surprise, chose Georgiana to personate the Nun and Mrs Annesley to be the iron grate. Darcy watched with his lips pressed together, ready to put an end to this nonsense should his sister show the slightest wish of withdrawing.
“As master of our sport, I hope you will order this particular Penitent to only kiss thehandand not the Nun’s cheek?” Balfour said heavily.
Bingley agreed whilst Mrs Bingley and Elizabeth brought two chairs, and Georgiana sat in one and Mrs Annesley took the other. Georgiana was pink, but she held out her hand. Mrs Annesley put her own hand up in front of it with fingers spread to represent the grate. Balfour knelt by the grate, rather than kneel directly before Georgiana, and said, “Alas, these cruel bars!”
Georgiana looked at Darcy, as though to ask permission. He gave her an encouraging nod, and she said to Balfour, “You may bestow on me a parting kiss.”
